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Journal article
Reporting of equity in observational epidemiology: A methodological review
Journal of global health, Vol.14, 04046
2024
Abstract
Background
Observational studies can inform how we understand and address persisting health inequities through the collection, reporting and analysis of health equity factors. However, the extent to which the analysis and reporting of equity-relevant aspects in observational research are generally unknown. Thus, we aimed to systematically evaluate how equity-relevant observational studies reported equity considerations in the study design and analyses.
Methods
We searched MEDLINE for health equity-relevant observational studies from January 2020 to March 2022, resulting in 16 828 articles. We randomly selected 320 studies, ensuring a balance in focus on populations experiencing inequities, country income settings, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) topic. We extracted information on study design and analysis methods.
Results
The bulk of the studies were conducted in North America (n = 95, 30%), followed by Europe and Central Asia (n = 55, 17%). Half of the studies (n = 171, 53%) addressed general health and well-being, while 49 (15%) focused on mental health conditions. Two-thirds of the studies (n = 220, 69%) were cross-sectional. Eight (3%) engaged with populations experiencing inequities, while 22 (29%) adapted recruitment methods to reach these populations. Further, 67 studies (21%) examined interaction effects primarily related to race or ethnicity (48%). Two-thirds of the studies (72%) adjusted for characteristics associated with inequities, and 18 studies (6%) used flow diagrams to depict how populations experiencing inequities progressed throughout the studies.
Conclusions
Despite over 80% of the equity-focused observational studies providing a rationale for a focus on health equity, reporting of study design features relevant to health equity ranged from 0–95%, with over half of the items reported by less than one-quarter of studies. This methodological study is a baseline assessment to inform the development of an equity-focussed reporting guideline for observational studies as an extension of the well-known Strengthening Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guideline.
Details
- Title
- Reporting of equity in observational epidemiology: A methodological review
- Authors/Creators
- Omar Dewidar - University of OttawaAli Al-Zubaidi - University College CorkMostafa Bondok - University of British ColumbiaLeenah Abdelrazeq - University of OttawaJimmy Huang - Bruyère Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaAlyssa Jearvis - University of OttawaLucy C Barker - University of TorontoNour Elmestekawy - University of OttawaElizabeth Goghomu - University of OttawaTamara Rader - Freelance health research librarian, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaJanice Tufte - Hassanah Consulting, Seattle, Washington State, USARegina Greer-Smith - Analyze & Realize (Germany)Hugh S Waddington - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK London International Development Centre, London, UKStuart G Nicholls - Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteJulian Little - School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaBillie-Jo Hardy - Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Well Living House, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaTanya Horsley - Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of CanadaTaryn Young - Centre for Evidence Based Health Care, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaLuis Gabriel Cuervo - Unit of Health Services and Access, Department of Health Systems and Services, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., USACatherine Chamberlain - Murdoch University, Ngangk Yira Institute for ChangeMelissa K Sharp - Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandBeverley Shea - University of OttawaPeter Craig - University of GlasgowDaeria O Lawson - McMaster UniversityAnita Rizvi - School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaCharles S Wiysonge - CochraneTamara Kredo - Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa Centre for Evidence Based Health Care, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaDamian Francis - Georgia College & State UniversityElizabeth Kristjansson - University of OttawaZulfiqar Bhutta - Aga Khan UniversityAlba Antequera - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, SpainG J Melendez-Torres - University of ExeterTomas Pantoja - Family Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, ChileXiaoqin Wang - McMaster UniversityJanet Jull - Queen's UniversityJanet Hatcher Roberts - World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Knowledge Translation and Health Technology Assessment in Health Equity, Ottawa, CanadaSarah Funnell - Queen's UniversityHoward White - Campbell Collaboration, Oslo, NorwayAlison Krentel - University of OttawaMichael Johnson Mahande - Christian Medical CollegeJacqueline Ramke - University of AucklandGeorge Wells - University of OttawaJennifer Petkovic - University of OttawaKevin Pottie - University of LondonLoveline Niba - Department of Public Health, The University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon Nutrition and Health Research Group (NHRG), Bamenda, CameroonCindy Feng - School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaMiriam N Nguliefem - University of OttawaPeter Tugwell - University of OttawaLawrence Mbuagbaw - McMaster UniversityVivian Welch - University of Ottawa
- Publication Details
- Journal of global health, Vol.14, 04046
- Publisher
- International Society of Global Health
- Identifiers
- 991005642769907891
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s)
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Ngangk Yira Institute for Change
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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